Pan lifter



J. A. DRiES PAN LIFTER Nov. 8, 1932.

Filed April 12, 1952 Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES JAMES A. DRIES, OF EMAUS, PENNSYLVANIA PAN LIFTER Application filed April 12,

This invention relates to pan lifters and more particularly to a device for lifting of hot pans of various weights and sizes.

An object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly simple adjustable pan lifter which is so constructed that it will firmly grip a pan within the jaws thereof so as to prevent slipping of the pan while it is being removed from an oven or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel movable jaw locking means whereby the movable jaw is locked against movement after engagement with the pan so that the pan will not slip off of the lifter or holder.

A further object of this invention is to provide asafety lock to prevent movement of the movable jaw until the latter jaw is released.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a. device of this kind which is 6X- ceedingly simple in construction so that it can be readily and cheaply manufactured.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a detail top plan View of a device constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention partly broken away.

Figure 2 is asectional view partly in detail taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view with the locking member in its forward posi tion.

Figure 1 is a sectional View taken on the line 41 of Figure 3, and showing in dotted line the jaw operating member in released position.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numerals and 11 designate a pair of resilient rods or bars which are disposed in parallel relation to each other, and in the present in stance, are formed integral one with the other 1932. Serial No. 604,766.

and are looped at the inner end thereof about a handle 18, which is disposed between the parallel bars 10 and 11. The forward or free ends of the resilient guide bars 10 and 11 are twisted, as at 12, and the ends are then extended in a divergent relation one to another and at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis of the guide bars 10 and 11, as at 14, so as to form a pair of fixed jaw members having inturned lingers or lugs 15 at the terminal ends thereof.

An adjustable jaw member, generally designated as 16 is slidably mounted on the guide bars 10 and 11, this adjustable jaw member 16 comprising a pair of divergent arms 17 and 18 having inwardly extending fingers or lugs 19 and 20, respectively. The convergent or inner ends of the jaw members 17 and 18 are looped, as at 21, about the guidebars l0 and 11 so that these jaw members 17 and 18 may be moved longitudinally of the bars so as to adjust the movable jaw member 16' relative to the fixed jaw member 14.

A substantially U-shaped jaw operating member, generally designated as 22, is formed with the inner end of each of the jaw members 17 and 18, this jaw operating member 22 comprising a pair of forwardly convergentmembers 23 which are disposed in substantially parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the guides 10 and 11 and the inner ends of these convergent members 23 are provided with a loop and downwardly extending operating member 241. The movable jaw 16 is not only moved longitudinally on the guide bars 10 and 11 by pushing or pulling the handle 24 but the jaw member 16 may be rocked slightly through the rocking of the handle 24, and a pair of looking members 25 are slidably mounted one on each of the guide bars 10 and 11 and are connected together by across bar or connecting member 26 disposed at the inner end of these locking members 25. The locking members 25 are adapted to move longitudinally on the guide bars 10 and 11 simultaneously with the movement of the movable jaw 16, this movement being caused by reason of the rearwardly divergent relation of the two arms or members 28.

In the use of this device, the movable jaw member 16 may be moved to the desired position relative to the fixed jaw member 14 by pushing or pulling the handle 24 so that the pan engaging fingers 19 and 20 of the movable jaw will engage the periphery of the an as will the pan engaging fingers 15 carried by the fixed jaw member 14. In order s to lock the movable jaw 16 in pan enaging posit-ion, the handle 24 may be pushed upwardly so as to carry the divergent ends of the arms 23 below the longitudinal axis of the guides 10 and 11 and past the transverse axis of the locking members 25. This movement will cause the guide members 10 and 11' to spread slightly and in thisposition, the slide portions 21 of the jaw 16 will be disposed on a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the guide members 10 and 11, so that this jaw member 16 will be firmlyheld against movement on the guides 10 and 11. In this locking position, however, the lockingmembers 25 are disposed in their forward position relative to the resilient arms 23 and if it is desired to lock the jaw member 16 positively against movement on the guides 10 and 11,

or as a factor of safety, the locking members 25 may be moved rearwardly to the limitof their movement so that the connecting bar 26 will engage the upper end of the handle portion 24. In this position, the handle 24 cannot be moved downwardly, both by reason of the connecting bar 26 engaging the handle, and by reason of the fact that this connecting bar 26 prevents spreading of the guide members 10 and 11 so that the rearwardly di-- vergent arms 23 cannot be moved downward ly, the arms 23 being disposed above the longitudinal axis of the guides 10 and 11 when in locking position.

It will be noted also that the weight of the pan engaged by the jaw members 14 and 16' will also hold the divergent arms 23 in their uppermost position so that the weight of the pan engaged by the lifter will not have a tendency to force the movable jaw to rock into released position.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims. 1

WVhat is claimed is 1. A pan lifting means comprising a handle, a pair of guide members carried by the handle, a fixed jaw formed with the forward end of said guide means, a movable jaw slidable on the guide means, and independent slidable locking means carried by the guide means to hold said latter jaw in adjusted position relative to the fixed jaw.

2. A pan lifting means comprising a handle, a guide means carried by the handle, a fixed pan engaging jaw carried by the guide means, a movable jaw slidable on the guide means, and independently slidable means carried by the guide means to hold said movable jaw in adjusted position relative to the fixed aw.

3. A pan lifting means comprising a handle, aguide means carried by the handle, a fixed jaw formed with the forward end of the guide means, a movable jaw slidable on the guide means, a aw operating member car- 'ried by the movable jaw, and independent tive to the fixed jaw.

5. A pan lifting means comprising a handle, a guide means carried by the handle, a fixed j aw carried by said guide means, a movable jaw slidable on said guide means and adjustable relative to the fixed jaw, said movable jaw comprising a jaw means, slides carried by the jaw means and engaging the guides, a aw operating member, rearwardly divergent arms connecting the operating member with the slides, and means carried by the slides and engaging the divergent arms to hold the movable jaw in adjusted position relative to the fixed j aw.

Y 6. A pan lifting means comprising a handle, a pair of parallel guide members carried by the handle, afixed jaw carried by the guide members, a movable jaw, means for slidably mounting the movable jaw on the guide members, a movable jaw operating member, said jaw operating member comprising a handle disposed at an angle to the guide members and a pair of rearwardly divergent arms con necting the operating handle with the slide means, a member mounted on each guide intermediate the slides and the divergent ends of said arms, and a connecting member connecting said latter members together, said latter members engaging said divergent arms upon rocking of said arms to hold the movable jaw in adjusted position relative to the fixed jaw.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. 7

JAMES A. DRIES 

